Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has revealed that he is enduring discomfort 'every day' at the World Cup after fracturing his ring finger just before the tournament began. The injury occurred on May 20 during warm-ups ahead of Villa's 3-0 Europa League final victory over Freiburg in Istanbul.
Injury details and recovery
The 33-year-old taped up his finger to play in the final but was subsequently sidelined for up to a month. He missed Villa's final-day 2-1 Premier League win at Manchester City and Argentina's World Cup preparation matches against Honduras and Iceland. Despite every surgeon recommending an operation, Martinez chose to delay surgery to represent his country.
'My hand still hurts every day; I knew it was going to be extremely painful,' Martinez said. 'I avoided surgery, even though all the specialists I consulted in the United States and England told me I needed to have it. I couldn't train during the group stage, but from the Round of 16 onwards after Egypt, I stopped thinking about it, and I feel much better.'
Message from the coach
Martinez revealed that Argentina's coach sent him a message before the World Cup saying, 'No matter what state you're in, I want you on my team.' He added: 'To me, that means more than saving ten penalties or making the front page of the newspaper. And if my moment doesn't come but we win the final, it will mean just as much.'
Transfer speculation and focus
Martinez has attracted transfer interest from Juventus, but his immediate focus is on helping Argentina win a fourth World Cup when they face Spain in New Jersey on Sunday. He was also asked about a lighthearted remark he made years ago, joking he would retire if he ever won two World Cups. 'Dibu' recalled the comment but insisted it was purely in jest, as he never thought such an achievement would be possible.
'Yes, it was with Nico at the AFA training complex. But first we have to win; that's the only thing I'm focused on,' Martinez said. 'We've been improving year after year with this team. Sometimes I tear up just thinking about what we've achieved. There are still moments of joy and celebration ahead.'
Enjoying the World Cup
'I'm enjoying this World Cup much more than the last one. I suffered a lot after the Saudi Arabia match in Qatar. I didn't face many shots, yet I conceded goals. I only played a decisive role during the penalty shootouts. I think I'm playing better with my feet now. I'll step onto the pitch on Sunday, and you'll see me smiling.'
'I feel very calm. A goalkeeper's role goes beyond just making saves during the match; you have to come off your line and project confidence. These are footballing aspects that reassure my teammates, I need to show them I'm composed. When they see that, they - being such talented players - can focus on pushing forward. We've managed to score a lot of goals this World Cup, and so far, we've conceded one fewer than in the last tournament.'
